Magnetic stacking and packaging machine for cans



March 13, 1951 J. c. STRICKLER 2,544,735

MAGNETIC STACKING AND PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CANS Filed May 17, 1945 8 Sheefr.sSheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

W Array/vars March 13, 1951 c, sTRicKLER 2,544,735

MAGNETIC STACKING AND PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CANS Filed May 17, 1945 x 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. azffizc/ab 4 TTOR IVE Y5 March 13, 1951 J. c. STRICKLER 2,544,735

MAGNETIC STACKING AND PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CANS Filed May 17, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 JM mliiillll ININNIN AA INN 227? s? A A 4 \A i as??? A A A A Az A E i 93 INVENTOR.

Array/YE Y5 March 13, 195] J. c. STRICKLER MAGNETIC STACKING AND PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 1'7, 1.945

INVENTOR. 04% 5M ATTORNEYS I Filed May 17, 1945 8 Shees-Sheet 6 March 13, 195] J, sTmcKLER 2,544,735

MAGNETIC STACKING AND PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CANS IN VEN TOR.

5M4, zMW

ATTORNEYS J. C. STRICKLER March 13, 1951 MAGNETIC STACKING AND PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CANS s Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed May 17, 1945 MQQ GUN

VQQ WQQ x NN .NMNI

m5 E NEW @iwm NEH" March 13, 1951 J. C. STRICKLER MAGNETIC STACKING AND PACKAGING MACHINE FOR CANS Filed May 1'7, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATroR/w: Y5

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 "MAG'NETIUSTACKING AND PACKAGING MACHINE FORCANS J ohnuCr Strickler san Francisco, Gali f.', assignor to American, Canflompany, NewtYork, N., Y., a corporation. of New Jersey Application:May '17, 1945;1SerialN0;594,218

15 Claims.

.T zp sent invention relates toa 'machineior p ka in metallic: containersiormcans;{for :shipment and storage and has particular) reference toi:ma lrlctic.devicesyforw arranging thecans in a predetermined order for; packaging.

.;1In: 1the; can -making--industry certain kindsvof cans, 1 especially those of! the sanitary or: full open qmouth type;-,-used;;for fruits'and Ve etables .zandrother rfood productssometime are vsealed in large;paper bags or packages, containing 1 approximately two hundred cans, which :protect the cans fromm-contaminationduring shipment and storage.

Fonbest results canspacked in such-paper bags or-packages are arranged. in a compact, relatively ..solid mass which can be handled without-break- Qing. It, has been found that-byrarranging the OfFfibreor other, material between :thelayervun l s lof; .cansas they are .placed within: the, packageuto ;.keep :the cansrof each layenunit separated.

Numerous other objects and advantages ofrthe invention {will be apparent ,as it.,is better, understood from thefollowingdescriptiOn, which, taken in connectionswith :the accompanying drawings,

.v discloses a preferredembodimentthereflf.

\ Referringto the. drawings: Figure. 1 is, a, t p, plan view of a machine em- :bodying the instant invention;

Figs.,- 2 and 3 are enlarged tpp plan and fside Views respectivelysof a gear detail lused inijthe .,machine,.with parts; shown-.insection andpart broken away;

Fig/l is, a perspective viewrdrawn ontai reduce scale of; apackagetor bag lfilledwith eansjlthe cans in a staggered relation beforeplacing them veinrlayers in thebag or package,- bettenresults ,are attained. "However, the arranging-V of: the cans in such a staggered relationpresents-considerable difliculties where high speed production requirements must be considered.

,The instant V invention contemplates overcomvingsthese difficulties'by providing a machine ,in ewhichcansmoving in,-a continuous procession are quickly arranged in proper, relation and are placed-within a package ready for sealing with- ;outmanualhandling and underhigh speed conv.ditions.

An object of the invention is the provision ofa machine foriplacing cans into fibre bags or pack- .agesin a compactarrangement wherein the cans are stacked in vertical contiguous 'rowsina predetermined relation and the entiretarrangement ioflcans asa unit is shiftedinto place within the package. and this is repeated for the desired numberlof .layers of such units comprising; the .contents of eachpackage.

JAnother object is. the, provision ofsuch, a machine wherein stationary ,and movable magnets operating in a synchronized. order are utilized for ,stacking. andholding the cansina predetermined arrangement: to make up a layerunit to be inserted in a package of such cans.

Another object is the provision inv a: machine of this charactenof, devices receiving cans in a continuous processionand segregating them into rows of a, predetermined number s of, cans, each row being located relative to a neighboring .row torbuild up a compact, relatively solidlayer of cans preparatoryfito insertioninto the package as -a unit.

Another object is the provision in such armaj'chine of devices, for insertin a separator.jshe'et .iEig. l5 ;is a\,side view of rthemachinelshown in Fig. 1,.with .parts brokenraway;

. Fig. 6 isla front-view of the machine, withparts broken away;

Figs. 7 and 8e. are transverse sectional .views taken ,,substantially .along thev ,line: 141. in ,'F ig. H6 and showing the. moving parts infldifferenfiposi- .tions parts. being. broken away;

Fig. .79 is,a vertical longitudinaLv section taken of the electric apparatus used in the machine.

g-Eigi 10,;isr an enlarged perspective detail, for one .Ofthepartsof the machine, with portions broken l away;

l Figj .l1 ,is avertical' transverse section: taken substantially along the broken"line. I ll infFjig. (EL-with parts broken away;

Figs; 12 to 17,:inclusive are diagrammatic views showing how cans arezsta'cked vertically by 'the stacking elements of ithe-machine; and

Fig. 18 isoadiagrammatic View ofthe driving mechanism of the machine and a wiring diagram As a preferred-embodiment of the instant in- ,vention' the idrawingsjillustrate ,a vvmachinejn hichsheet metal cans A (Fig. 4) are packed into f'ment andtstorage. ,ThescansA aregiempty and large paperlbags'B to form a pa'ckageforshiphave one end closed with an end'memberC' (see "In'the machine'the oansiAlare receive'diinsa Figs. '7, and 8). The cansshown are round in horizontal position; i. e.', lying on one side and are "segregated into rows of, a, desiredunumbernoi cans.

iiRowsgof, equalnumbers of cans maybe segregated Or. rows. of unequal numbers, if i,desired,,so that frame 22'. formed with laterally extended lugs 33, 34 which they may be staggered or not staggered in the corresponding relation.

The rows of cans, as they are segregated are lifted vertically and arranged in position to form a compact, orderly mass or layer unit. When the unit is complete the entire mass is pushed horizontally into a mould D or package holding device which is surrounded by a paper bag or can package B. As each layer unit is deposited in the mould a fibre separator sheet E is inserted into place in front of the layer of cans. In this manner a plurality of layers of cans separated by fibre sheets E are built up in the mould until it is filled. When the mould D is filled the bag B with its load of cans is removed and sealed ready for shipment or storage.

The cans A advance into the machine in a continuous procession moving along an inclined runway 2| (Figs. 1, 6, '7, 8 and 11), the machine end of which is secured to a vertical frame 22 having an H shaped horizontal cross section which constitutes the main frame of the machine. In the machine the cans roll along a horizontal table or support 23 (Figs. 9 and 11) which is formed as an integral part of the main frame 22. This table is substantially as wide or deep as the height of the cans received thereon.

The number of cans on the table 23 constitute one row, as hereinbefore mentioned. The number of cans in the row and their location on the table is controlled by a stop arm or element 25 which is disposed adjacent the terminal end of the table, at the right as shown in Fig. 11. Where the cans are to be stacked in a stagger layout as shown in the drawings, the stop arm 25 reciprocates along the table a .distance of one-half the diameter of a can and in shifted position stops alternate rows of cans one-half a diameter ahead of the inbetween rows. It is this locating of the vertical stop lever 28 carried on a rocker pin 29 secured in a pair of lugs 3| formed on the inner surface of. one of the side wings of the main The stop arm and the stop lever are carry aligned electric switch points constituting a switch 35 which is used, as will be hereinafter explained in connection with the wiring diagram .cam roller 4| (Figs. 9, 11 and 18) which operates against an edge cam 42 mounted on a short jack shaft 43 carried in a bearing 44 formed on a transverse vertical web 45 of the main frame 22. The jack shaft is rotated by a sprocket 46 which is mounted on the inner end of the shaft. The sprocket is connected by a chain 41 to a driving sprocket 48 (see also Fig. 6) mounted on a main drive shaft 49 carried in a pair of spaced bearings formed on the transverse web 45 of the main frame 22.

The main drive shaft 49 is rotated by a sprocket 52 (Fig. 6) carried loosely on the shaft. This sprocket is connected by a chain 53 to a driving sprocket 54 mounted on a rotor shaft 55 of a combined electric motor and speed. reducer unit 56. The motor and speed reducer unit operate continuously. The main drive shaft, however, is normally stationary and is rotated periodically by a suitable commercial one-revolution clutch 51 (Figs. 6 and 11) having a driving member 58 keyed to the drive shaft and a driven member 59 secured to the drive sprocket 52. The clutch is actuated by a pivotally mounted clutch finger 6| controlled by a movable element 62 Of an electric solenoid 63 carried on the transverse web 45 of the main frame 22.

Hence when a full row of cans A is assembled on the table 23 as shown in Fig. 11, they create a pressure against the stop arm sufficient to pivot the arm on its pin 21 against the resistance of its wire spring 36. This movement of the arm brings its switch contact against the switch contact of the stop lever 28 and this closes the switch 35. Closing of the switch energizes the main clutch solenoid 63 (Fig. 6) and this actuates the clutch finger 6| to throw in the clutch 51. The

main drive shaft 49 thereupon begins its movement and rotates through one revolution after which it stops.

During the rotation of the main drive shaft 49 the cans A on the table are lifted vertically and the jack shaft 43 and the cam 42 carried thereon rotate through one-half revolution. This shifts the stop lever 28 inwardly, as hereinabove explained, to locate the next row of incoming cans in a position which is in staggered relation to the row just elevated. As soon as the row of cans being elevated has passed above the stop arm 25 and released the same, the spring 36 opens the switch 35 and this deenergizes the solenoid 63 to permit stopping of the main drive shaft at the end of its one revolution. This cycle is repeated for each row of cans to be elevated into stacked formation.

Lifting of the rows of cans is effected by a plurality of spaced and parallel, vertically disposed magnetic feed or lift bars 66 (Figs. 6, '7, 8, 9 and 10) which are located adjacent the front of the can table 23. These lift bars operate in vertical slideway grooves 61 formed in a retainer plate 68 which extends transversely across the front of the machine and at its ends is bolted to the main frame 22. This plate is made of nonmagnetic material and confines the lift bars against displacement. It is mounted above the top edge of the transverse web 45 of the main frame.

Each lift bar 66 is of channel shape construction, as best shown'in Fig. 10, and contains a plurality of electromagnets H which when energized set up a magnetic field adjacent the bars. A cover plate 12 secured to a side of each bar and forming a part thereof retains the magnets in place within the bar. Energization of the magnets is controlled by an electric switch 13 indicated in the wiring diagram in Fig. 18 and opened and closed at the proper time by a cam 14 carried on the main drive shaft 49.

At their lower ends, the lift bars 66 are tied together by a shaft 15 which extends through the ends of the bars. Intermediate the two outer pairs of lift bars, the shaft carries a pair of spaced and parallel arms 16. The lower ends of these arms are mounted on pivot studs 11 secured into eccentric discs 18 carried on the outer ends of the main drive shaft 49.

Hence when the main drive shaft 49 rotates through its one-revolution cycle it raises the lift bars through an upward or stacking stroke and then lowers them to their original position through a return stroke by the action of the amazes eccentrici discs 18 andzthearmsalfih At theihe'ginning of: thefstacking stroke, 'thelswitchucamxll turning with: the shaft :immediately closes ;the ele'ctricswitch 'l 3: and thus energizes the. electro- -magnets H. The energized magnets attract the cans-aAxthe1r=resting :on: the table 23 .and hold them with their openends against thelift bars. -As the lift bars :r-iseithroughztheir. stackingstroke, :the row of cans, clinging...to..the. lift bars is .ele- .vtaedaboveithe table: 23 .to aposition :in front of the mould D. 'Here they. are. clear of. the. next row. of incomin canswhi'chi-mmediately roll: into placeonthe tablezassoonas the cans just lifted are outof the way.

At the end of the up or stacking stroke-of the :lift'bars 6.6 and. just; before .the bars :.start to xreturnto theiroriginallowered position,ithe. mag- -.netic .hold. on .thewrow of: elevated cans is .trans- :ferred from the lifter bars to. aplurality. of inter- .mediate "'T1-shaped .auxiliary magnetic holding I .platessBl. :Theseplates retain the cans=.in:their elevated. position while lthe'liftba'rs return. The .holding plates;8l are;;disposed between the lifter bars inxparallelism .therewith. .'Ihey. extend .ver-

v.izically-for. the full height of. the can mould .Dand

are located. directly; infront; of this. mould.

".The .inner .faces of.;the holding plates.n8 lnare. in .averticalplane and. in...one.p ositin are in the sameverticalplane"with theinner. faces of the mlifterbars 6,6. These;plate...inner faces arethus adj acent; theopen ends .of- .the cans when the latter. are lifted alon side; the. ,platesinto their elevatedposition. ,Theholdingplates. extend outwardly inthe front. of .thermachine a. consider- .able distance beyondthe .lift barswas 'bestseen in --F 'igs.. 7,; and 9. The. outer Vertical edges of these plates are maintained in spaced relation .by a.;plurality of rows ofnormally deenergized cylindrical electro-rnagnetse82. jlfie rods 83BX- tendacross the entire number of plates and are in.;the same vertical plane. .-Eac h rod passes through arow of the magnets and ties the plates together. The magnetsare energizedand deenergized byan electric switch;84 (Fig. 18) which is opened and closed at the proper time by an-edge cam 85 (Fig. 18) mounted .onthe main drive shaft. 49.

. After a row of cans. has been lifted and just before the lift barstt start to return totheir originallowered position,.the, switch 84 is closed and the holding magnetstz are energized. The magnetic fields setup inthefaces of the holding platesfsi by these magnets hold the elevated cans against them. "The magnets 'll .in the lift bars are deenergized and thus release'their hold on the cans. :This is'what, constitutes the trans- "fer' ofmagnetic holding power from the bars to 'the plates as mentioned above. The cans then remain-in-their elevated position b'eing'held by the holding plateswhile the lift bars return to pickup anotherrow of cans.

At the time the liftbars '66 return to'fully lowered position, thennaindrive shaft fle'has just-completed its onerevolution cycle and both barsand shaft come to -rest. This completes the-cycleof operation-0f lifting one row of cans.

-If there are sufficient cans on the-table-23 to make up:a new row before the main drive shaft 49 completesits cycle, the pressure of thecans will close the stop switch 35 before the lift bars 66 have completed their return stroke and hence the clutch solenoidt3 will be already energized and theclutch finger. t! alreadyactuated to start a new cycle just as. .soonas the old cycle iscompleted. ..In that. event the main driveshaft does' to the lift bars at the same time thati theilift barspick up. the newly. completed: row of: cans F onthe table. Thusiwhenthe lift bars moveup through: their. second stacking. stroke, .=they lift .the bottom. rowof cans .into theelevated posi- ;tionv formerly. occupiedby the first row and simulvation.

Upon reaching these neweleva'tions the magnetic. holding poweragain is transferred from the lift bars 66 to the holdingplateslBl :bythe .ldeenergization-of themagnets ll andithe energization. of. the :magnets 32,-: as above explained. aThis leavesboth rowsof elevated cans suspended .by...the holding plates 8|. and leaves athelift'ibars .66 freeto return for-another row.

Thereafter a the lifting. cycle. .i repeatedand asshown by the diagramsrin'='Figs. 312- to 'l7, :in- -clu.sive,:- the rows ofecans are progressively elevated. and stacked; .the zmassl of cans alternately clinging- :to the holdingplates 8 l and to the lift- .ing. bars; 68. It: should". benoted that all-rows first few. lifting actions.

3 In .the :instant case, where: six rows==ot cans ;make upithe fulllayenunitgithis :spacedlifting takes placefor the-first ioun-rows. The-.top row 40 of cans reaches the :top-of the mould (Fig. '16) before the end ofthe'fifth-stacking stroke of the lift barsleii. :Overhan'gingguide barsorcan .stopelements iifi forming theroof of the-mould JD prevent the full liftingeflector the lift bars on the cans at this' time-and hold' the top row ofcans in-proper position. On this stroke the :second row downfrom the :top engages against ithe top row-and comes into-proper=-staggered :relation. therewith during the upward" travel of the lift bars on this stroke. This is -bro ght about by the rising lift -bars 66 slipping-along the. cans which have-been prevented from up- -ward movement by the bars 85. On the sixth stacking stroke of='the'-lift bars '(F'ig.-"1'7)=the spaces between the remaining rows of cans are completely closed as themovingrows progres- :sively engage against the-stopped rows. -In-;t his waythe -full assemblage of a layer unit of cans Y sufiicient to fill the mold D -is-co mpleted.

Transfer of the assembled layer-unit of cans A into the mould' D is brought aboutby a*1ongi "tudinal --.h0rizontal movement'of the-holding .plates 8l while the lift bars GG-are-returningto their lowered position after delivering the sixth rowof-cans-to the holdingplates. -For thispur- :pose the two outenholding-plates, one on each side-of the-machine, are equipped with slide brackets-88 (Figs. 5-to Sand 11). "These brackets have longitudinal -slideways -89 in which sta- I-he slide brackets 88-are= connected by links .taneously lift the. :first row to a stillhigher eleof cans move upwardlydn. spaced relationfor the tionary-gibs- 9i (see-also---Figs.-7, Sand 11) are 93 (Figs. 5, 6, '7, 8 and 11) to the upper ends of a pair of vertically disposed levers 94 which are mounted on the ends of a rocker shaft 96. This shaft extends across the machine and is carried in bearings 91 formed in the main frame 22. Within the frame, the rocker shaft carries an arm 98 (see Figs. 9, 11 and 18) having its outer end pivotally connected to a crank 93 mounted on a pivot stud IllI secured in an eccentric disc I02. The disc is mounted on a short shaft I03 carried in a pair of spaced bearings I04 formed on the transverse web 45 of the main frame 22.

The short shaft I03 is normally stationary but once for every layer unit of cans formed in the stacker section of the machine, the shaft is rotated through a one revolution cycle. For this purpose the shaft carries a loose hub having formed thereon a small sprocket I05 (Figs. 11 and 18) and a large sprocket I06. The large sprocket is connected by a chain I! to a driving sprocket I08 mounted on the main drive shaft 40 ad jacent the driving sprocket 52.

Connection between the short shaft I03 and the sprocket I06 for rotating the shaft is effected by way of a suitable one-revolution clutch III (Fig. 18) similar to the drive shaft clutch I hereinbefore described. The clutch III includes a driving element II2 keyed onto the short shaft and a driven element II3 formed on the small sprocket I05. The clutch is operated by a pivoted clutch finger II4 which is actuated by a movable element I I5 of a normally deenergized electric solenoid II6 mounted on the transverse web 45 of the main frame 22.

Energization of the clutch solenoid I I6 is brought about by an electric switch II'I (Fig. 18) which is opened and closed at the proper time by an edge cam II8. on a stub shaft I2I carried in a bearing I22 formed on the transverse web 45 of the main frame 22. Theshaft is periodically rotated by a gear I23 (see also Figs. 9 and 11) which is mounted on the outer end of the shaft and which meshes with a pinion I24 mounted on the outer end of the jack shaft 43. The gear I23 is designed to make one revolution for each layer unit of cans, six rows while the gear pinion I24 makes one half revolution for each row of cans elevated.

Hence when a full layer unit of cans has been stacked in position in front of the mould D, by the combined action of the lift bars 60 and the holding plates BI, the gear I23 has been rotated suificiently to move the cam II8 which in turn closes the switch Ill. The energizes the clutch solenoid I I6 and thus throws in the clutch III. This operation of the clutch rotates the short shaft I03 through one revolution before the clutch again becomes disconnected.

During this revolution of the short shaft, the eccentric I02 mounted thereon through its described connections with the holding plates 8i, shifts the plates horizontally as mentioned above through a can pushing stroke. This deposits the mass of cans clinging to the plates into the mould D as a layer unit. The holding plates move the cans into the mould from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8, which distance is equal to the length of the cans plus a slight overthrow for clearance purposes.

When the layer unit of cans is fully within the mould, as when the holding plates 8| reach the innermost extent of their pushing stroke, the magnets 82 are deenergized. This deener- The cam is mounted gizing of the magnets releases the cans from the holding plates, the cans becoming seated in the mould. The deenergizing of the magnets is efiected by the opening of a normally closed electric switch I25 (Fig. 18) which is controlled by an edge cam I26 (see also Fig. 11) carried on the inner end of the short shaft I03.

As soon as the cans are released from the holding plates 81, these plates move outwardly through a return stroke and come to rest in their original position adjacent the lift bars 66. They remain in this position while cooperating with the lift bars in building up another layer unitof cans for the subsequent insertion into the mould.

The can mould D comprises the overhanging guide bars 86 and a plurality of horizontally disposed plates I3I and two corner members I32 (see Figs. 9 and 11). The inner ends of the plates and corner members are secured to the main frame 22. These plates and members are arranged so as to surround and set off 2. rectangular area which is substantially equal to that occupied by the full number of cans to be packed into a paper bag B. The plates and corner members are disposed in spaced and parallel relation with their edges beveled and curved so as to lit and properly hold the cans of each layer unit in their staggered and nested relation. The two corner members I32 are located in diagonally disposed corners and are formed with interior locating surfaces I33 to fit the can pattern, as best shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 17.

The outer ends of the mould plates I3I and corner members I32 project beyond the machine frame for a distance equal to the depth of the bag B into the cans are to be packed. The bag is stretched over this mould, as best shown in Fig. 1, either while the mould is being filled or after it is filled. Hence when the mould is filled with cans, by the repeated pushing movement of the holding plates BI as has been explained, the bag or package with its load of cans may be rapidly stripped off in any suitable manner and carried away for sealing to condition it for shipping or storage.

As each layer unit of cans A is placed within the mould D a sheet E of fibre, as for example heavy paper or cardboard, is placed in the mould adjacent one face of the cans. This sheet serves as a spacer or separator element to keep the layers of cans separated to avoid damage to the cans and prevent their shifting out of place while in the bag.

The separator sheet E is cut off from a roll F (Figs. 1, 5 and 9) of fibre strip stock supported on an axle I35 the ends of which are carried in a pair of brackets I36 secured to the main frame 22. The strip of fibre from the roll extends vertically toward the top of the machine adjacent the outer ends of the holding plates BI, and is supported on a pair of spaced flanged idler rollers I4I, I42 which extend across the machine. The rollers I4I, I42 are mounted on idler shafts I43 carried in bearings I44 formed in side brackets I45 (see also Fig. 11) bolted to the top of the main frame 22. There is a bracket on each side of the machine.

The leading end of the strip of fibre extends between a pair of normally stationary feeding rollers I48, I49 mounted on respective shafts I5I, I52 which extend across the machine. The shaft I5I is carried in bearings I53 formed in the side brackets I45. The roller I49 serves as a pressure roller' and :aits'fsh'aft ffl 52 fisiicarried ina"; pair of slide blocks I54 mounted in slideways' I55 formed 1 in auxiliary i-"biiackets'n l 56 -;-bolted to the top of the:.-main1;framee22 adjacent the brackets I45; Adjustingiiscrews l 51 carried: in the auxiliary brackets "and: engaging against the slide .blocks' provide for: 'adjustihgilfthe' pressure exerted by the :roller I49 "ragainst r-thee strip ixof= fibre as it' is fed by .thefeed-rollers;

In operation the 'feediroller's I48, I49tfeed the leading end I of the I stripiof fibre downriniront of the mould D" into the space between a layer. unit of cans in 'the'm'ould: and="a 1ayer -:unit .or cans being stacked: by the'tcombined action of the lift bars 66 and the 'holding platesrfilu- To feedthe strip the 'feed :rollers" are rotated in; unison by a pair 'offmeshirlg :spur 'gearst':-I6I I62: mounted on the ends-zof thelrollerishafts ;I5I-,2 I52.

The-"feed 1ollers"I48, I49 aredriven by an in-' terrupted gear mechanism-Which permits inter ruption of the "feeding actio'n while the separator sheet is cut offs This-ri m'echanismrrincludes"a tight gear-J63- (Figs.-1,-.2 and"'3) iwhich'is keyed to the feed roller 'shaft 1 5I-and la looseigear :I64 whiohis semi-loosely-mounted on the shaft ad-: jacent the tight 'gears Aicollar' :I 65 pinnedto 'the' endof the shaft ike'eps--the='loose=gear.in .place thereon. The loose 'gear is-formed 'witha curved slot I66 and ar pin I6! secured in the tightsgear I63 projects intoith'eslot andalimitsith'eamount of rotative movement relative to the tight gear, as I will he ;explained hereinafter;

A conventionalihand brake lfi8 surrounds' the hub'iof the tight gearrandfiapplieswa pressure thereon :"to' "holdthe feed rollers" normally z-sta tionary. This-stops rotation of'the%rollers at the termination ofiamsheetvfeeding; operation:- This brake is secured'by :a-1stud I69 to the adjacent side bracket 145:

The interruptedr gear mechan ismalso includesa mutilated drive gear lll' having two:adjacent: toothless recessed areas: I12; I13 forme'd inits periphery; asbest shown in Figs: 2'-and' 3. Suchagear cooperates with and 'drives-the-tight and loose gears I63, I54" at certain periods. The mutilated gear III is: mounted 011 one endvofwa cross shaft I'I5"(se'e also Fig. -ll.)fwl'i'ich.ziswcarried in bearings I I6 'formed'in the side brackets I45. The opposite end of the crossshaft carries- I but is rotated througha .one-:revolutionwcycle once: for every'ilayer -unitof cans= A inserted :into the mould'D; Rotation of theshaft is: effected through a suitable: one+revolution clutch I85 (Figs; 11 and 18) which: is similar :to the: other two-clutches 51, I I I hereinbefore explained. The clutch I85 includes adriving:member I86- 'keyed onto the sprocket: shaft =and -a -driven member I83" formed onthe-sprocket -IIIM The clutch-isoperated ;by;-a-* pivotally: mounted" clutchfinger I83 which is actuated by asmovableelement I86 of a normally deenergized eleetricwsolenoidal BI mounted on: the @transverse web 45' of the-main:

frame-22h Energization-eofthe clutch solenoid ISI- 7 is brought about by the operation ofr an electric switch I92-(Fig.- 18) which'is opened and closed at :the proper'time by an-edge-cam I93; The

cam ismo-unted on the inner end of the stub The speed relationbetween'tthe sprocket shaft I81 and the feed-rollers I48, I49 is such that a length of the strip' of fibre required to provide aseparator sheet'E is fed into place adjacent the layer unit of I cans in the mould B during a partial rotationof "the'sprocket shaft; During the remainder of the-one-revolution cycle of the sprocket shaft, the separator sheet F is severed fromthe strip,

During the separator sheet cutting operationthe feed rollers I 48; I49-come to rest while the sprocket shaft IBI'cOntinuesto rotate and they remain stationary until thenext cycle of 'operationof' the sprocket shaft.

the feedrollers'is eifected by themutilated gear III, as duringits rotation by'the sprocket shaft;

it brings'the toothless, recessed area I'I2 into position'adjacent the-tight gear I63 onthe'feed This recessed area extends half roller shaft 1 5 I. wayacross the faoe'of -the mutilated gear I'II' soa'that r during "the passage of this area past the tight gear I63, the latter gear will notbe':

rotatedrbut the loose igear I 64"" will' continue .to

rotate: It is this" halting' ofthe tight gear I63 lfi Iicomes-intoengagement-with the pin I 6'I.='

Thisis-the end of 'thecycleofoperation of thesprocket shaft I8I. However, the length of the curved slot I66 is such that contact of thepin I61 with the: trailing end of the slot,'brings the gear teeth of the loose gear I54 intotransverse alignment with the teeth on the tight gear I63.

Hence upon rotation of themutilated gear III at the "beginningof the next following cycle of operation; the teeth of this gearat the trailing end of the recessed area I'IZ will properlymesh withithe teeth'onthe stationary tight gear I63 and thus will pick up or start rotating this gear in the proper timed relation.

The mutilated gear I'II disengages theloose gear. I64-at'the same vtimezit picks up the tight gear I63 to effect the rotation of the feed rolls I48, I49 for the feeding of a subsequent separator sheetE. This disengagementis brought about by the bringing of the toothless, recessed area I'I3-of the :mutilated gear into place adjacent the loose gear; While this recessed area-is passing the loose gear, there is no engagement between the loose gearand the mutilated gear. Hence the loose gear temporarily stops rotating.

During this stationary period of the loose gear,

the pin- I61 in thenow rotating tightgear I63 travels along the curved slot inthe-loose gear and thus movesaway-from the'trailing end'of the slot toward the leading end. When the pin:

engages the-leading end of'the slot, the loose gear:

is'again in its original position adjacent the tight gear; with the teethof .both gearsin transverse al'ignm'enti- Henoe -when thesteeth of the mutt;

This. stopping of lated gear III again come into engagement with the loose gear they will be in proper meshing position. In this manner temporary halting of the feed rollers I48, I59 may be brought about with continued operation of the driving gears.

While the feeding rollers I48, I49 and the strip of fibre is at rest, after a predetermined length of the strip has been fed into position to provide a separator sheet E, the sheet is cut off. This is effected by a movable cut-off knife I95 (Fig. 9) cooperating with a stationary cut-off knife I96 located directly below the feeding rollers and between which the strip passes. The ends of the stationary knife are secured in the auxiliary brackets I56. The ends of the movable knife I95 are bolted to slide blocks I 91 (see also Fig. 11) which operate in horizontal slideways I98 formed in the brackets I45.

The movable knife I95 is actuated through a forward or cutting stroke (toward the right as viewed in Fig. 9) and thence through a return stroke by a pair of swing arms I located one adjacent the inner face of each of the brackets I45. These swing arms are mounted on a cross shaft 202 the ends of which are carried in bearings 203 formed in the brackets I45. The swin arms extend down adjacent the slide blocks I55 and are formed with forked ends or clevises 204 which straddle actuating pins 205 secured in the slide blocks.

Intermediate its length one of the swing arms 2III carries a cam roller 2E8 which operates against an edge cam 209 mounted on and rotated with the mutilated gear shaft II5. Springs 2II carried on pins 2| 2 secured in the brackets I connect with the slide blocks I97 and keep the cam roller 208 in engagement With its earn 289. It is this cut off mechanism that severs the separator sheet E from the strip. After severance the sheet falls into place in the can mould D in front of the adjacent layer of cans therein in readiness to receive the next layer unit when that unit is assembled in the stacking portion of the machine.

Reference should now be had to the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 18. In the machine the various electric devices are supplied with electric energy by way of a main lead wire 225 and a return lead wire 226 which connect with opposite sides of a suitable supply of electric energy, such as a generator 221.

Setting of the machine in motion to stack the rows of cans into position as each row is assembled on the machine table 23 is effected by a circuit L which includes the normally open stop switch 35 and the normally deenergized clutch solenoid 63. When the stop switch 35 is closed, electric energy from the generator 227 flows along main lead wire 225, a connecting wire 231, solenoid 83, a connecting wire 232, clcsed switch 35, a connectin wire 233 to the return lead wire 226. Electric energy passing along this circuit energizes the clutch solenoid 53 which actuates the main shaft clutch 51 (Fig. 6)

Energization and deenergization of the electromagnets II in the lift bars I55 is effected through a circuit M which includes the cam operated normally open switch I3. When the switch 13 is closed electric energy from the main lead wire 225 passes along a connecting wire 235, the magnets II, a connecting wire 231, closed switch I3, returning by way of a connecting wire 238 to the return lead wire 226. Electric energy passing along this circuit energizes the magnets II. When the switch I3 is opened by the cam I4 the material circuit is broken and the magnets become deenergized.

The magnets 82 of the holding bars 8I are energized and deenergized at the proper time by a circuit N which includes the cam operated normally open switch 84 and the normally closed breaker switch I 25. When the cam switch 84 is closed electric energy from the main lead wire 225 passes along a connecting wire 24I through the magnets 82, along a connecting wire 242, through the breaker switch I25, a wire 243, cam switch 84, returning by a wire 244 to the return lead wire 226. Electric energy passing along this circuit energizes the magnets 82. It is this ener y that is utilized to hold the cans on the holding bars BI while the lift bars return to pick up and elevate the rows of cans from the machine table 23. When the cam switch 84 is opened the circuit is broken and the magnets 82 thereupon become deenergized. This is done to release the cans to the lift bars 66 so that they may be elevated, as hereinbefore explained.

This electric energy passing along the circuit N is also utilized to hold the cans on the holding bars BI while they are being inserted into the can mould D. In this case, however, the circuit is broken earlier in the stacking cycle so that the cans will be released when deposited in the mould. This is brought about before the regular opening of the can switch 84 and is effected by the opening of the breaker switch I25.

Horizontal movement of the holding bars BI,

brought about by actuation of the clutch II I and the resulting rotation of the short shaft IE3 is effected by a circuit 0 which includes the normally deenergized clutch solenoid IIS and the cam operated normally open switch III. When the switch I I1 is closed, electric energy from the main lead wire 225 passes along a connecting wire 245, through the solenoid II 5, a wire 2, switch III, and a connecting wire 248 returning to the return lead Wire 226. It is the electric energy that passes along this circuit that energizes the clutch solenoid I I6 and thereby through the one-revolution clutch I I I sets the short shaft I03 in motion. Opening of the cam switch III occurs before the end of the one-revolution cycle of the short shaft I03, and thereby deenergizes the solenoid before the end of the cycle to insure completion of only one cycle.

The separator sheet cutting off movement effected by the clutch cam I85 and the sprocket shaft I8I is brought about through a circuit P which includes the normally deenergized clutch solenoid I9I and the cam operated normally open switch I92. When the switch I92 is closed electric energy from the main lead wire 225 passes along a connecting wire 25 I, through the clutch solenoid I9I, and returning by a wire 253 to the return lead wire 226. Electric energy passing along this circuit energizes the clutch solenoid IBI and thus throws in the cut-off clutch I85 for a one-revolution cycle. Before the completion of this cycle the switch I92 opens, and this deenergizes the solenoid I BI and thus permits of the stopping of the sprocket shaft I8I at the end of the cycle. This completes the wiring diagram.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely: a preferred 'embodiment thereofi I enim 1." In" a machine for packaging metallie com tainers,'- the combination of a='support" -for-' thecontainers; means for holding a pack'age-to re=- ceive said contain'eramagnetic means movable" relativeto said support -for moving containers from saidsupport-into a-positi'o'n adjacent said package holding means, auxiliary magneticmeans for holding the containers in their displaced posi tion until a unit'of a phirality 'of the containers is assembled adjacent said package holding means, means for moving the-unit of- 'conta-iners' from its assembled position intor-the -p'a-ckage held by said-package holding-meansg and "means:- for rendering-said magnetidmeans effective to re lease said containers after moving-the contain'- tively offsetpositionstch efiect a staggered row layout relation of the 'cont'ainerspmeans forhold ing a package tore'ceiVe -said-'containers; magnetic means movable f'relative to saidsdppbrtfor 'eie vating successive rows of "cor'itainers from sa'id support into a position adj acent said package holdingmeans; anxiliaryfmag-netic means for holding the containers in their elevated posi' tion'until a -uni't 'of' a plurality 'of the "containers is" assembledadjacent" said package holding package holding "means,"1and' means forimoving said auxiliary magnetic container:holding means to shift the unit of elevated-containers froin 'its assembledxpositicn into the packag'e'lheld iby said package holding means.

5. In: a macliine" forzpackaging metallic c'o'ntaine'rs, the' combinati'on of a' suppor-t' or the containers, means for: 'holdi'ng 'a': packa'g td're ceive saidcontairi'ers; "magnetic 'feed 'm'e-ans mov able-relative to said; support" for 'm'o'ving con tainers from said' support into aaposition La'dja centsaid -package' h'oldingimeans, auxiliarwnag netic feed means: for fiholdiiig i the ficQntainersim their displaced positibn untilfa' unit'ofa p1ura ity of the containers is assembled adjacent said ackage holding meana means for movingi the unitof containers from its assembled sposition? into the 7 package heldby "said fpack'age holding means; means i for deenergizin 1::v said :nragneti'c feed means i after the containerst have beenien l gaged bi said magneticholdirig meansnand means"for effecting; the moving' iof th'e assenibled un'it of containers in ti m'e withthe a'sse'mblage-of the' containers into' tne'iuniti 6. In a machine for packagin'g "metalli'c'i con tain'ers",' the" combination of 'a support for sthe containers; means for' holding a package= to= re ceive*said= containers: a magnetidfeedi'barimov able relative' to said-support" for' 'elevatingi con-i tainers from said "'support'dntoia ositron adjai-l means, and meansfor 'mov-ingsaid auxiliary magnetic container holding means to shift the elevated unit of containers fromits assembled position intothe package h'el(;l "-bvsaid package holding means.

3. Ina' machine for packagingmetallic con tainers; thecombination ofa support"'-for-*the containers, means for hol'ding a pa'ckage' to receive' said containers; magnetic means' movable relative "to said support for" elevating containers from said support into-"a position adjacent said package holding means; auxiliary"= magnetic; means for holding the 'containers' in their' 'ele vated position until aunit' oi-a plurality of con ta'iners is assembled adjacent said package hold ing means,- meansfor moving said 'auxiliar-ym'ag netic container holding means to shift' the unit of containers fromits I assembled posit'ioir mm c the'package held by said package holding means; means for feeding astripof sheet jmatrialiritd position between units-ofcontainersinserted into the package, and means for severing-irom said strip a'separator sheet for 'theunit of con tainers in the package.-

4i-In a machineforpackagingmetalliecom tainers,- the combination of asnppor-t on the containers, means for holding I a -packagetore= ceive said containers, electroma'gnetic means movable relative to said support for elevating containers .from said support' intoa positioned jacent said package holding means,- auxiliary electro-magnetic means ion hol'ding thercontaine' ers in their elevated -position untililzaiunt iof fa plurality of the containers Jis iassenibldoadj'ae cent said package holdingameans, meansfiforienf-v ergizing and deenergizingsaid electr'o rna'gnetid means and said auxiliary electiio-"nag-netici means in time withthe -n'iove1ne1'itof said' con' tainersito transfer the 'magnelfic'i-holding TpoWeE from one -ofsaid meansto th'e: -otherto? veffect cent said package 1 holding me nsiran auxiliaryl magnetic plate 5 disposed: adjacent L-the path oftravel" of saidmagnetic tbarilfor lholdingf= thei'con tainersx' in their el'evatedizposition; until 5 at unit: of a'plnrality of 'contain'ersis' assembled ad acent said package holding me'ansf; an'd' means fdr mov ing the elevated unit-"of: containers from:its=1asi-' sembl'edposition' into the package iheld byx-sai'd package "holding meansefi '7." In a machine -for packaging -metallic con-- tainers, the combination -of a supp'or t for the containers, "means ion hbldiiig a package 'to re: ceiv'esa id containers; a pliiralit y of magneti'c feed bars movable relative to said support fo'n shifting'rows' of containers from said sdppo'it into a position adjacent saidpackageholding means, a plurality of' auxiliary-' magneticgplates disposed adjacent and-"between"-said magnetic bars and engageable wi'th tlie' -rows of shiftedcontainers for holdingthem i a-predetermined shifted position until a unit- 0f "a" plurality i of rows or containers is assembled adjacent said package holding -means, and means fon shifting a the unit of containers from its' assembled p'os'ifition into the package held 'by saidIp'ackagehold ing' means.

In a: machine for? packaging i metallic:com:v tainers, the combination: of; a supportzfor the. containers; means ffOlI'hOl'diIig. package! toareceive said-containers, aifeed bar movable 'rela tive' to i said: support for 'elevatin'g containers fronivsaidtsupport' into a "position adjacent' said package -holding ,rneans,- magnetic means 'on said' feed bar rfortholdinglzthe rcontain'ers' in :eng-agee ment: with zsaid ifeedzbar during": the elevating movement, azholding 'plate disposed adjacentthe path: of -ktravel of said feed bar for holding: the containers i-intheir elevated position: untila unit ofaLa a-plurality of :containers' :is- 'assemb1ed adj a cent saidfpackage holding means;- other magnetic means on saidrholdingiplate:forholdingathe containers: thereon during? the assembling; of said containers; and meaneI-foifl'shiitin holdingaicplate: with. zitsltunitiof containers rl fiiom" its assembled position into the package engaged by said package holding means. a

9. In a machine for packaging metallic containers, the combination of a support for the containers, means for holding a package to receive said containers, a plurality of feed bars movable relative to said support for shifting rows of containers from said support into a position adjacent said package holding means, a plural ity of electro-magnets disposed within each of said feed bars for setting up a magnetic field in said feed bars to holdthe containers on the bars during the shifting movement, a plurality of holding plates disposed adjacent and between said feed bars for receiving and holding the rows of shifted containers in their shifted position to build up a unit of a plurality of rows of containers, a plurality of electro-magnets disposed between said holding plates for setting up a magnetic field therein to hold the containers on the bars, and means for shifting the unit of con-- tainers from its assembled position into the package held by said package holding means.

10. In a machine for packaging metallic containers, the combination of a support for the containers, means for holding a package to receive said containers, a plurality of feed bars movable relative to said support for shifting rows of containers from said support into a position adjacent said package holding means, a plurality of electro-magnets disposed within each of said feed bars for setting up a magnetic field in said feed bars to hold the containers on the bars during the shifting movement, a plurality of holding plates disposed adjacent and between said feed bars for receiving and holding the rows of shifted containers in their shifted position to build up a unit of a plurality of rows of containers, a plurality of electro-magnets disposed between said holding plates for setting up a magnetic field therein to hold the containers on the plates, means including a source of electric energy and electric switches connecting with said magnets for alternately shifting the holding power of said magnets between said bars and said plates for the shifting and holding of said containers to assemble them into a unit, and means for shifting the unit of containers from its assembled position into the package held by said package holding means.

11. In a machine for packaging metallic containers, the combination of a support for the containers, means for holding a package to receive said containers, a plurality of feed bars movable relative to said support for shifting rows of containers from said support into a position adjacent said package holding means, a plurality of electro-magnets disposed within each of said feed bars for setting up a magnetic field in said feed bars to hold the containers on the bars during the shifting movement, a plurality of holding plates disposed adjacent and between said feed bars for receiving and holding the rows of shifted containers in their shifted position to build up a unit of a plurality of rows of containers, a plurality of electro-magnets disposed between said holding plates for setting up a magnetic field therein to hold the containers on the bars, and means for shifting said holding plates with a unit of containers clinging thereto for positioning said containers into the package held on said package holding means.

12, In a machine for packaging metallic containers, the combination of a support for the containers, means for holding a package to receive said containers, a plurality of feed bars movable relative to said support for shifting rows of containers from said support into a position adjacent said package holding means, a plurality of electro-magnets disposed within each of said feed bars for setting up a magnetic field in said feed bars to hold the containers on the bars during the shifting movement, a plurality of holding plates disposed adjacent and between said feed bars for receiving and holding the rows of shifted containers in their shifted position to build up a unit of a plurality of rows of containers, a plurality of electro-magnets disposed between said holding plates for setting up a magnetic field therein to hold the containers on the plates, means for shifting said holding plates with a unit of containers clinging thereto for positioning said containers into the package held on said package holding means, and means for releasing the containers from said holding plates after positioning in said package.

13. In a machine for packaging metallic containers, the combination of a support for the containers, means for holding a package to receive said containers, magnetic feed means movable relative to said support for moving containers from said support into a position adjacent said package holding means, auxiliary magnetic feed means for holding the moved containers in their displaced position until a unit of a plurality of the containers is assembled adjacent said package holding means, means for moving said auxiliary magnetic feed means with a unit of containers held thereby for positioning said containers into the package held on said package holding means, and means for disengaging said first mentioned magnetic means from the containers after engagement of said auxiliary magnetic means therewith.

14. In a machine for packaging metallic containers, the combination of a support for the containers, a movable stop element disposed adjacent said support, means for moving said stop element relative to said support for engaging and aligning successive rows of containers on the support in relatively offset positions to effect a staggered row layout relation of the containers to be packaged, means for holding a package to receive said containers, magnetic means mov-' able relative to said support for elevating successive rows of containers from said support into a position adjacent said package holding means, auxiliary magnetic means for holding the containers in their elevated position until a unit of a plurality of the containers is assembled adjacent said package holding means, and means for moving said auxiliary magnetic container holding means to shift the unit of elevated containers from its assembled position into the package held by said package holding means.

15. In a machine for packaging metallic containers, the combination of a frame, means adjacent said frame for introducing containers into the machine in a continuous procession, a table support on said frame for supporting a row of containers, a pair of cooperating magnetic members independently movable relative to each other respectively for elevating containers from said table support to progressively raised positions, and for holding the elevated containers in their elevated positions for assembling a plurality of containers into a compact unit mass arranged in a predetermined pattern, a mould disposed adjacent said lifting and holding mem- 16 bers for receiving a unit mass of said contain- 17 ers, said mould supporting a, package for receiving said containers, and means for moving said magnetic container holding member relative to said lifting element to insert the unit mass of containers held thereby into said mould.

JOHN C. STRICKLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Phelps May 11, 1915 Number 

